Millbrook Housing Needs Survey

1. Introduction

A local Housing Needs Survey offers a snapshot of the housing situation in the parish at the time of the survey; the outcomes will alter with increasing/decreasing values of housing, changes in the economic climate and the lending policies of banks and building societies, demographic changes in the community, and the changing circumstances of individual households.

Millbrook Parish Council conducted a Housing Needs Survey in partnership with Cornwall Council. 1068 forms and an explanatory letter were dispatched on 4th April 2013, and the closing date was 17th May 2013. A copy of the survey form and letter are attached as Appendix 1.

It is generally held that local needs surveys remain robust for a period of 3 years and should be updated, if necessary, after 5 years. This document sets out the survey results, and includes additional data from Cornwall Council’s Homechoice register. As well as identifying housing need within the parish the results of the survey will be used in support of the generation of the Millbrook Neighbourhood Development Plan by the Parish Council.

2. The objectives of the survey were to:

Establish the need for affordable housing within the parish;.

Identify the extent and nature of the affordable housing need;

Establish attitudes towards further residential development;

Identify land that may become available in the future.

3. The methodology used for the research criteria consisted of:

Sending out surveys and explanatory letter to all households of the Parish of Millbrook who are on the electoral register;

A freepost return address for the replies;

A standard questionnaire designed to seek information on current and emerging affordable housing need;

A comments section within the questionnaire for residents to expand on their responses.

4. Response Rate

A total of 1068 surveys were sent out, of which 147 were returned giving a total response rate of 14%.

5. Analysis of Results

In terms of assessing statistical accuracy, the sample allows a high ‘confidence level’ of 99%, with a ‘margin of error’ (a ‘confidence interval’) of 10. In straightforward terms this means that if (say) 45% of respondents pick the same answer to a particular question, the level of confidence suggests that we can be 99% certain that between 35% (45 minus 10) and 55% (45 plus 10) of all households would have picked that same answer had all households responded to that particular question. The margin for error of 10 is within acceptable parameters and the data sufficiently robust to gain an outline picture of the current housing and household circumstances, and an understanding of what people might need and can afford.

6. Summary of Findings

Current position within the parish

Of the 147 surveys returned:

00% of properties are main homes

0% are second homes

The remaining questions in Part One of the survey were answered only by those respondents whose main residence is within the parish (147 possible responses).

Question 2 had 147 responses and of those:

69% of homes are houses, 19% are bungalows, 8% are flats, 3% are retirement housing, other sheltered housing or other types of accommodation.

Question 3 had 147 responses and of those:

53% of homes are owned outright

7% of households rent from the Local Authority

7% rent from a Housing Association

8% of households rent from a private landlord

1% of homes are another source

Question 4 had 143 responses and of those:

6% of properties have 1 bedroom

36% of properties have 2 bedrooms

41% have 3 bedrooms

17% have 4 or more bedrooms

Question 5 had 142 responses and of those:

33% of households have 1 person living there

49% of households have 2 people living there

18% of households have 3 or more people living there

Question 10 had 139 responses and from those households:

50% of residents are male

50% of residents are female

6% of residents are aged 0-10

8% of residents are aged 11-20

3% of residents are aged 21-30

5% of residents are aged 31-40

11% of residents are aged 41-50

17% of residents are aged 51-60

32% of residents are aged 61-70

13% of residents are aged 71-80

6% of residents are aged 81-90

7. Need for Affordable Housing

7 people said that they knew of family members who had moved away due to difficulties in finding an affordable home in the parish and would return if affordable housing was available.
14 people stated that their household wished to move to another house either now or within the next 5 years.

Part Two of the survey, addressing specific needs for affordable housing in the parish, was completed only by respondents who answered yes to either of these questions (17 possible responses).

Part Two

Question 12 – Where does your household live?

13 respondents live as a single household within the parish

Timescale

Question 13 – When does the household need to move?

4 respondents would like to move into an alternative home within the next 2 years

Question 19 – The three main reasons given for needing to move were:

The following reasons were also given:
• Need secure/permanent accommodation (1 response)
• Need a larger home (1 respondent)
• Other (1 response)

Question 20 – Type of household

1 respondent is a one person household

6 respondents are couples

4 respondents are two parent families

1 respondent ticked other

Local Connections

10 respondents have been permanently resident in the parish for the last 3 years

Of these, 7 respondents have also worked in the parish for the last 3 years

9 respondents have been living in the parish for 5 years

7 respondents have family members who have formerly lived in the parish for a continuous period of five years

Affordability

If you wish to buy a home what total house price can you afford?

2 households can afford house prices of less than £50,000

2 households can afford between £50,000 – £69,999

2 households can afford between £100,000 – £149,999

1 household can afford between £200,000 – 249,999

1 household can afford £250,000 and over

If you wish to rent a home what is the maximum rent you can afford

3 households can afford between £50 – £99 per week in rent

4 households can afford between £100 – £149 per week in rent

1 household can afford between £150 – £199 per week in rent

1 household can afford between £200 – £249 per week in rent

Total monthly take home income

2 households have a monthly take home income of between £420 – £834

2 households have a monthly take home income of between £835 – 1249

2 households have a monthly take home income of between £1250 – £1665

2 households have a monthly take home income of between £1666 and £2499

1 household has a monthly take home income of above £3300

8. Support for Affordable Housing in the parish

107 people responded to the question about support for Affordable Housing in the parish and of those:

77% (82 respondents) would support a small development of affordable housing for local people within the parish if there were a proven need

13% (14 respondents) said that they might be supportive

10% (11 respondents) would not support this

Statements of support for affordable housing within the parish

Respondents were asked to tick all statements which they agreed with relating to affordable housing:

39 agree that affordable housing should ideally be provided in one compact development;

102 agree that affordable housing should ideally be provided in small sites scattered throughout the parish;

106 respondents agree that affordable housing should be provided to anyone living in, or homeless (but formerly resident) in the parish who can’t afford to rent or buy;

103 agree that affordable housing should be available to people who have lived or worked in the parish for the past 3 years;

59 agree that affordable housing should be available to people who have lived in the parish for 5 years, but may not live there now;

92 agree that affordable housing should not be made available to anyone who has never lived in the parish.

Some respondents chose not to tick any statements.

9. Comments from the surveys

The following is a summary of the additional comments made by residents on the forms.

This village does not have the facilities for further development, with traffic congestion in narrow roads, waiting time for Doctor’s appointments & full school.

Affordable housing has not been given to ‘local’ people. Rent locally for 3 years and become more eligible than real locals. Better to deal with second homes.

Village facilities ie school, doctors etc is almost choc-a-block already. With the previous social housing (Southdown Road, near football club) there were insufficient locals applying therefore it was opened up to outsiders to occupy them all.

It isn’t surprising there is a perceived need for affordable housing within the Rame Peninsula when Council policy allows the following outrage: private mortgage – social housing should be given to those already needing to up or down size. It is unfair and a disgrace that private owners can be given social housing. If needs change then down size privately.

Unfortunate fact whether or not survey shows a need for more affordable housing, the infrastructure could not sustain it – schools are full, roads and parking a dreadful problem already, doctors lists overfull, no banks etc. etc. + previous affordable housing has been given to people from other areas because of insufficient local applicants.

Strongly support the need for affordable housing

to buy or rent, particularly for young people in the area who live in the village.

If someone cannot afford to rent they will be in no position to buy.

Info requested on affordable housing for 20 year old living at 5 Heron Close.

Need flexibility of choice. There is no room for suggestions. I thought this was to be a neighbourhood survey not another parish survey.

10. Identifying land within the parish

Respondents were asked if they were aware of any sites in the parish that might be suitable for an affordable housing scheme. The following locations were given:

Near Parsons Court

Near Florrick Down

Pottery

Southdown

Area around old liberal hall

Insworke

Petrol station

Between Gallow Park and Hounster Hill

West of Hounster Drive

Mill Farm Land

Main road out of village

Quarry

Empacombe

Maker Heights

11. Other Housing Needs data

Cornwall Homechoice

In order to identify more local housing needs information the Council has invested in Cornwall Homechoice, a sophisticated housing register system to collect and collate housing needs information by village, parish and town. The register also contains information about local people who may not necessarily be currently resident in the parish. It is important that local people who need affordable housing are registered with Homechoice.

Homechoice data (Non Questionnaire information)
A total of 137 applicants with a local connection to the parish of Millbrook have applied to the housing register as of May 2013.

Size of Accommodation

Applicant Type

1Bed

2Bed

3Bed

4Bed+

Total

Band A

1

1

0

1

2

Band B

4

12

1

1

18

Band C

10

6

4

3

23

Band D

12

3

0

0

15

Band E

40

28

10

1

79

Total

67

50

15

5

137

A total of 162 applicants to the Homechoice register have expressed a preference for living in the parish of Millbrook.

Size of Accommodation

Applicant Type

1Bed

2Bed

3Bed

4Bed+

Total

Band A

1

1

0

1

2

Band B

5

12

4

3

24

Band C

15

7

3

3

28

Band D

9

6

0

0

15

Band E

49

33

10

1

93

Total

79

59

17

7

162

12. Conclusions and Recommendations

Data from both this survey and the Homechoice housing register suggests that there is a need for a scheme of affordable housing which includes a mix of affordable housing tenures but predominantly affordable rented accommodation with some assisted sale (low cost/discounted sale or shared ownership). Reassurance about priority for local people would need to be addressed by making appropriate provision in any section 106 planning obligation, and a detailed Local Lettings Plan covering both tenures.

Next Steps

The Parish Council notes that most respondents would support a small development of affordable rent properties in the village. These properties should be managed by a housing association and situated close to the village amenities.

The Parish Council now proposes to work towards the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan.